Nuclear Optics

North Korea apparently detonated a third nuclear device overnight. On Tuesday night, President Obama is slated to propose a cut from in the deployed U.S. nuclear stockpile from its current 1,700 warheads down to as few as 1,000.

Just like in stand-up comedy, timing in nuclear-weapons matters – from ignition to negotiation — is everything.

The timing of the NoKo test couldn’t be worse for Obama’s initiative. All the usual suspects, including China, have protested what Obama called North Korea’s “highly provocative act.”

Of course, there’s basically no linkage between a third successful test by Pyongyang, and a U.S. effort to bring its A-stockpile down substantially. But that won’t stop arsenal-huggers from maintaining that any U.S. reduction is tantamount to unilateral disarmament, which is second cousin to national suicide.

It just seems strange that the quest by some American politicians to hang on to as many nuclear weapons as possible isn’t that different from Kim Jong-un’s push to prove he has them.

Some in the U.S. claim that Iran has violated the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is a false accusation. What is true is that the U.S. hasn't complied with Article VI of the NPT.

TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONSSigned at Washington, London, and Moscow July 1, 1968Ratification advised by U.S. Senate March 13, 1969Ratified by U.S. President November 24, 1969U.S. ratification deposited at Washington, London, and Moscow March 5, 1970Proclaimed by U.S. President March 5, 1970Entered into force March 5, 1970

Article VI

Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a Treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/npt/text/npt2.htm